Stenciling-machine.



G. GIBBS & J. SOKOLOV.

STENCILING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9, 1909.

1 1 20,38 1. Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

C. GIBBS & J. SOKOLOV.

STENOILING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT,9,19OO4 Patentd Dec. 8,1914.

4 SHEETS *SHEET 2.

0. GIBBS & J. SOKOLOV. STENCILING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.9,1909. 1,120,381 Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

4 SHEETS'*'$HEET 3 C. GIBBS & J. SOKOLOV.

STENCILING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 9. 1909.

1 1 20, 38 1 Patented Dec. 8, 1914,

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

wimww A6 ly gzfog;

UN ED STATES ragsm OFFICE;

CHARLES GIBBS AND JACOB SOKOLOV, OF NEW YOBK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS T0 UNDER- WOOD TYPEWBITER COMJBANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

have invented certain new'and useful I m-' provementsin- Stenciling-li/Iachines, of which the following is a specification.

,This invention relates to a sheet-feedlng mechanism, and especially to means for feeding sheets to a stenciling machine; and isin the nature of an im rovement u on the invention disclosed in Patent 0. 1,046,581, dated December 10, 1912. In the device of said patent a pair of clips are employed to rest upon the leading end of a pile of sheets, and the top sheet is withdrawn from the clips'by means of a rubber roller, and then advanced over the clips, by means of the same,roller,. t o, the; stenciling mechanism. Said roller travels 1 forwardly and backwardly u on the pile ofsheets. In the first part 0 its retreating movement it runs freely over the pile, but during the last part of such movement it 1s caused to grip the top sheet a'nd pull it out from the yielding clips, and to buckle said sheet back against a gage or stop. During the following advance travel of the roll, it continues to grip the sheet-and carry it forwardly over the clips to the stenciling rolls. The feeding roll is connected to a carriafge which is caused to reciprocate by means 0 a crank provided upon a power shaft and connected by a train of gearing to the stencil cylinder.

One of the objects ofthe present invention is to provide more positive and effective means for taking hold of the top sheet to withdraw it from the clips, and advance it to the stencil cylinder. In place of the rubber roll in said application, the present invention employs a roll armed with sharp prongs, which are effective to pick up the sheet under all conditions of use. Provision is also made for temporarily increasing the pressure of the points or pron sheet, in order to get a more e ective hold thereon when withdrawing it from the clip. Another object of the invention is to improve and simplify the clutching mecha- Speciflcation of Letters Patent,

soft

s upon the str'E cILmq-maoamn.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

' Application med September 9, 1909. 'Serial No. 516,854.

.nism, which controls the revolution of the feedin roll. A it venient to convert the machine at will from rther object is to render it con- 7 a self-feeding into a manually fed stenciling machine. To this end, the feeding roll and ts controlling devices are mounted so that they may be detached together bodily fronrthe reciprocating carriage, so that substantially all of the reciprocating parts above the level of the feed board may be removed and the sheets conveniently fed by hand. Y

Another object .of the invention is to facilitate the return to flat condition of any sheets, beneath the top sheet, which may be started back during the withdrawal of the top sheet from the clip. For this purpose, pressure upon the cli is relieved. during 3 .the forward travel of t e sheet feeding rol plify and-improve the carriage and its operating mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a stenciling machine constructed in accordance with the present improvements, the top sheet being shown as having been withdrawn from the clip at the last part of the rearward stroke of the feeding roll. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the principal portions of the machine, omitting the stencil rolls and the feeding roll. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a feeding roll and clutching mechanism. Fig. 4 is' a sectional side elevation, showing the roll released at the termination of its advance stroke, so that it may run freely back upon the sheets during the first part of its retreating stroke. Fig. 5 shows the opposite side of the feeding devices, and illustrates the means for temporarily increasing the pressure of the feeding -roll upon the sheets. Fig. 6 is a part sectional elevation, and Fig. 7 a plan of the means for detachably connectingthe feed roll frame to the reciprocating carriage. Fig. 8 is a part sectional front elevation of certain portions of the mechanism. Fig. 9 is a part sectional elevation of the roll-controlling clutch mechanism, illustrating the manner of releasing the clutch-releasing lever, to permit the latter to move to ineffective position, whereby the roll is clutched against rotation during the last part of its retreating stroke to withdraw the top sheet from the clip. Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the parts in the same position as at Fig. 9, and also showing the downward pressure applied to-the feeding roll.

The stencil cylinder 1 may be rotated in any suitable manner, as by a power shaft connected by a spring ratchet 5 to a ratchet collar 6 on the main shaft 3. A driving gear 7 on the shaft 3 may be connected by an idle gear 8 with a gear 9 secured on the shaft of the stencil cylinder. A pressure roll 10 runs uponthe bottom of the cylinder 1', to press the sheets thereagainst to be stenciled. A pile of sheets 11 rests upon a table 12, which leads to the bite of the stenciling rolls 1 and 10; and said sheets are advanced one by one to the bite of said rolls by means of a. series of metallic or hard toothed wheels 13, all fixed upon a shaft 13, and togethenforming a single feeding roll.

The teeth 13 of these wheels are sharpened" and constitute prongs so that the periphery of each wheel 13 resembles a saw or gear \vheel having serrated teeth, to dig into the top sheet to get an effective hold thereon. These teeth are pointed backward. They do not pierce the sheet in either backward or forward movement of the rollers. Said feed roll 13 is connected to a reciprocating carriage or traveler comprising a pair of sliding blocks 14 connected by pitmen 16 to cranks l7 fixed upon a revolving shaft 18 connected by a train of gearing to the driving gear 7; said train including a bevel gear 18 on said shaft, a shaft 18 extending fore and aft of the machine and-carrying bevel gears at its ends to connect 1.8 with a bevel gear 18, the latter connected by a short shaft 18 with a gear 18 meshing with the gear 7, Fig. 8. The slide blocks 14 are not connected directly to each other, for the sake of simplifying the machine and rendering the parts accessible.

The carriage is run back and forth upon guide rails 19, which are secured upon studs 20 projecting inwardly from the side wall 21 of the machine frame. The shaft 18 projects through a pair of supports 22 forming part of the framework of the ma chine; and the cranks 17 are secured upon the projecting ends of said shaft. Said supports are thus located between the cranks, while the cranks and pitmen 16 play in the space between the supports 22 and the adjacent walls 21. It will be seen that the mechanism is wholly confined between said side walls while plenty of room is given to all of the parts; and also that the two carriage slides 14 are connected through the pitmen 16, cranks 17, and shaft 18, so that they travel in unison; said slides being given one complete reciprocation along the guide rails at each revolution of the stencil cylinder 1.

Said feeding roll 13 is carried upon a bail comprising a pair of arms 25 and a horizontal cross shaft 26, which is journaled upon a pair of posts 27 rising from the carriage blocks 14. During the entire advance travel of the feeding roll 13 forwardly from the Fig. 1 position, said rollis held against rotation, to pick up and advance the top sheet. A ball 28 is constantly pressed by a ball farther into the throat being of course prevented by the ball itself. This ball has no tendenc to prevent the wheel and roll from rotating when the latter is traveling backwardly to the Fig. 1 position; but the described ball clutch holds the roll 13 against turnin during'the entire forward travel thereo from the Fig. 1 position, for the purpose of enabling the roll to bite the sheet and carry it forward over the pile 11 during the entire advance stroke of the roll.

The tendency of the roll 13 to revolve during its retreating stroke from the position at Fig. 4 to the position at Fig. 1 is controlled by clutch mechanism, which is constructed to permit the roll to run freely for only a rt of the distance. This clutch mecha- $m comprises a ball 33 and a spring 34,

wljghich tends constantly to push the ball up i ifito the bite of the wheel 31 and an abutment 35 provided upon the same arm 36 which carries the abutment 30 and forms part of the roller-carrying frame. The tendency of the ball 33 is to prevent the roll 13 from turning during its backward stroke to the Fig. ,1 position. It is desired, however, that the roll 13 shall revolve freely during a large part of its return stroke, and for this purpose a releasing arm 37 is provided for engaging said ball and pushing it down against the tension of the spring 34 and out of the bite of the wheel 31 and abutment 35, so that said wheel and roll 13 arereleased for rotation.

The releasing movement of the arm 37 is effected by means of a link 38 pivoted at one end thereto, and at its opposite end loosely engaging the rock shaft 26. Said link has a head 38 engageable by a cam or shoulder 39 secured upon a rock shaft -10, mounted in the posts 27 beneath the shaft 26 and carrying at one end an arm 41 having a projecting pin 42. In the path of said pin is an abutment or stop 43, whereby the pin is arrested durin the last portion of the advance stroke of the carriage from the position at Fig. 1 to that at Fig. 4. For this reason the arm 41 is caused to swing during the last art of said stroke and to turn the rock sha t 40, so that the cam or shoulder 39 engages the head 38 of the link 38, and swings the arm 37 to release the ball clutch 33. This releasing movement may be completed before the completion of the advance movement of the carriage, to permit the roller 13 to be rotated freely by the top sheet, which at this time is being pulled forward by the stencil rolls 1 and 10. The cam 39 has a dwell portion 39 concentric with the hollow shaft 40, which permits an idle movement of said shaft and the arm 41 after forcing the arm 37 to release the clutch.

A latch or sear 44 is pressed down by a spring 44 (said latch and spring protected by a guard 44") behind a 'jog or shoulder 45 formed on the releasing arm 37 to hold the latter temporarily in clutch-releasing position. Thus the roller 13 may run freely and idly back over the pile of sheets during the major portion of the retreating stroke of the roll. During the last part of said stroke, said latch or sear is released. This is effected by a stop 46 placed in the path of the in 42, whereby the arm 41 and the rock shaft 40 are swung in the opposite direction (Fig.1) and the pin or cam 47 projecting from the part 39 on said rock shaft engages an arm 48 provided on said sear and lifts the latter. The spring 34 then forces the ball 33 up into eflective position, and the roll 13 is stopped from turning, and during the remainder of its retreating stroke it drags the top sheet from beneath the clips 49, and buckles it against a rear gage 50. The roller carriage at this time is at the terminal portion of its retreating stroke, and during its advance stroke the non-rotating roller 13 grips and carries forwardly the released sheet to the bite of the stencil rolls 1 and 10. Thus it will be seen that as the stencil cylinder revolves, the roller carriage travels to and fro, and at every operation releases the top sheet from the clips, buckles it back a ainst the top gage 50, and then carries it orward to be stenciled. The roller frame settles or swings down as the pile of sheets diminishes, and the described movement is repeated until the last sheet of the pile is fed.

Each of the clips 49 is in the form of a head provided on the top of a vertical pin 51, which is guided for vertical movement in a boss 52 depending from the table 12. Each head 49 also carries a tongue 53 extending vertically down therefrom through an opening in the table, and having at its lower end a cushion 54. Upon these cushions rests a cross arm 55 carried by one end of a weighted bar 56, whereby pressure is applied to the clips 49. The rear end of the bar is hinged upon a cross rod 57. As it may sometimes happen that one or two of the under sheets may be buckled a trifle (without however slipping out from under the clips 49) by the action of the roll 13 during the retreating stroke thereof, provision is made for lifting the weight 56 from the clips during the forward stroke of the feed roll 13, so that said feeding roll may tend to carry the under sheets forwardly against the tongues 53, (which serve as gages for the forward ends of the sheets) and thus aid the partly buckled under sheets in resuming their normal fiat condition and forward position. This lifting of the weighted bar 56 is effected by a cam 58 secured upon the shaft 18, which engages a pin 59 provided upon said bar 56 to lift the latter (Fig. 2). The bar 56 drops again in time to cause the clips 49 to grip the pile prior to the next withdrawal of the top sheet therefrom.

Downward pressure is temporarily applied upon the pronged feeding roll 13 by means of a draw spring 60 (Figs. 5 and 10),

'which is connected at one end to the arm 36 of the roll-carrying frame, and at the other end to an arm 61 pendent from a rock shaft 62, also supported upon the posts or carriage members 27. This rock shaft 62 carries a cam 63 in the path of a stationary adjustable stop 64 provided upon the framework; said stop engaging said cam during the latter portion of the retreating stroke of the carriage, and hence turning the rock shaft 62 and the arm 61, and tensioning said spring 60, with the result of pressing down the arm or frame 36, and the feeding roll 13, just as the latter is withdrawing the top sheet from the clips 49. Thus the required pressure for picking up the sheet is secured, without the necessity of causing the roll to dig into the top sheet during its entire retreating run thereover; and the pressure may be so light during said run that no indentations may be made upon the top sheet by the sharp prongs 13. The stop 64 is in the form of a screw, which renders it convenient for adjustment to secure the desired tension upon the spring.

All of that portion of the carriage and other reciprocating members above the level of the feed table 12 may, if desired, be constructed for ready detachment from the sliding blocks 14 of the carriage, so that the machine may be used for hand feeding whenever required. To this end the posts 27 may be made in two parts, the upper part constituting a socket piece and the lower part 27 consisting of a short stop or post rising from the block 14. A vertical thumb screw 65 may be passed down through an car 66 in each of the post or socket pieces 27, and threaded at 67 into the carriage blockl l, Figs. 6 and 7. By simply looseningthe thumb screw 65, the socket pieces 27 may be lifted off, together with the roll frame 25, 26, and the clutching mechanism leaving the topof. the table free for hand work. The stops43 and 46 may be formed in one piece, and secured upon either side of the tableby screws '68 for convenient re moval, if desired.

When'it is desired to place the pile of sheets upon the table, a button 69 is turned to rock a shaft 70, which carriesa pair of cams 71, which'turn up toengage the stems 51 and lift the clips 49. The sheets are then laid upon the table 12, a pressure bar 80 resting upon the rear end of the pile. The button 69 is then turned to permit the clips 49 to drop. For convenience in inserting the pile, a gravity latch 81 is ivoted at 82 upon the arm 36 to hold the rol er frame up. It is only neoessar to lift the frame until the forward end 0 said latch catches upon the rock shaft 40, thus preventing the frame from dropping. After the sheets are placed upon the table and adjusted, the latch may be released and the feeding roll frame per. mitted to dro r The axle o the pressure roll 10 rests at its ends upon a pair of rolls 83, pivoted upon plates 84, secured u on levers 85 hinged at their forward en s at 86 to the framework, and loosely carrying at their rear ends a cross bar 87. Up a ainst this bears a cam 88 secured upon a roc shaft 89, whereby the pressure roll may be set up or released in the usual manner. 1

Variations may be resorted to within th scope of the invention, and portions of the im rovements may be used without others.

aving thus described our invention, we claim: H 1. The combination witha clip to rest upon the leading edge of a pile of sheets, a surface roller to move upon the pile with varying pressure, means to reciprocate said surface roller upon the pile of sheets, and means to prevent rotation of thesurface roller, thereby to enable it to pick up the top sheet, withdraw it from the clip, and advance it over the clip; said surfaceroller having on its periphery hard sheet biting or pricking teeth or prongs sufficiently numerous and close together to form a serrated surface to permit it to roll smoothly along the pile without picking up or mutilating the top sheet.

2. The combination with means for supporting and gaging a pile of sheets, of a surface roller consisting of a set of sheetbiting or pricking prongs, means to reciprocate said surface roller upon the pile of sheets with varying ressure, and means to check the rotation 0 the surface roller intermittently during its reciprocatory movements, in a manner to cause the pron to pick up and separate the top sheet an advance the same from the pile; said prongs sufiiciently numerous and close together to form a serrated surface to ermit the roller to roll smoothly along t e pile without picking up or mutilating the to sheet.

3. The combination with a c 'p for the leading edges of the sheets, of a gage for the rearends of the sheets, sheet-bitmg or pricking prongs arranged upon wheels to form a surface roller to run upon the sheets means to apply varying pressure to sai roller, and means to enable the prongs to catch into and withdraw the top sheet from the clip and buckle it back against the gage, and then to carry said sheet forwardly over the clip to sheet-advancing mechanism; said rongs sufficiently numerous and close toget 1er to form a serrated surface to permit the roller to roll smoothly along the pile without picking up or mutilating the top sheet.

4. The combination with a clip for the leading edges of the sheets, of a gage for the rear ends of the sheets, sheet-biting or pricking prongs arranged upon wheels and forming a surface roller to run upon the sheets, means to reciprocate said roller upon the sheets, means to cause said roller to run idly, upon the first part of its retreating stroke, means to check the rotation of the memberduring the last part of said stroke to enable said prongs to bite into and pick ulp the top sheet and withdraw it from the c i means to apply spring pressure to the I re]. er-during its plcklng-up movement, and

means to check the rotation of the roller during the forward stroke thereof to cause said prongs to advance the sheet over the clip; said prongs sufficiently numerous and close together to form a serrated surface to permit the roller to roll smoothly along the pile without picking up or mutilating the top sheet.

5. The combination of means for supporting a pile of sheets, a gage for the rear edges of the sheets, a set of sheet biting or pricking prongs forming a serrated surface rolling device, means to apply said rolling device upon the topmost sheet with varying pressure to reci rocate said rolling device upon the pile of sheets, and means to check the rotation of the rolling device during its backward stroke, to cause the prongs to catch into and buckle the to sheet back against the gage, and to check such rotation during the forward stroke of the rolling device, to cause .it to advance said sheet.

' withdraw the top sheet from the clip, and

to check its rotation also during its advance movement so that it may advance the top sheet over the clip.

8. The combination with a clip f'orgthe leading edges of the sheets and a age for the rear ends of the sheets, of a ro 'ng device armed with prongs to run upon the pile of sheets, means to reciprocate said I rolling device, means to check its rotation during its backward and forward strokes, and regulatable means to increase its pressure upon the pile when withdrawing the top sheet from the clip.

9. The combination with a clip for the leading edges of the sheets and a gage for the rear ends of the sheets, of a device armed with prongs to roll upon the sheets, means to reciprocate said rolling device, means to check the rotation of said rolling device to enable it to catch the top sheet, withdraw it from the clip, set it back against the gage and then advance it over the clip, a spring, and means operating through said spring for ,temporaril increasing the pressure of said rolling evice' upon the sheet at the backward movement 4010f the latter.

i 10. A sheet feeding mechanism including a device armed with prongs, means to cause said device to roll back and forth upon the pile of sheets, means to arrest the rotation of said device to cause it to catch the top sheet and feed the same from the pile, a

spring, and means operating through said spring for temporarily increasing the pressureof said rolling device upon said pile when catching the top sheet.

11. A sheet feeding mechanism including I a device armed with prongs to roll upon the pile ofsheets, means to cause said device to catch the top sheet tofeed the same from the pile, a spring, means operating through saidspring for temporarily increasing the pressure of said rolling device upon said pile when catching the top sheet, and a device adjustableto regulate the tension of said spring; 1

12. A sheet-feeding mechanism including a carriage, means for reciprocating it alon a-pile 0 sheets, a device connected'to sai carria e and armed with prongs to roll u on the pi e of sheets, means to check the re g action to enable the prongs to catch and feed the top sheet, and means de endent upon the movement of the carriage or temporarily increasing the pressure of the prongs upon the sheet when catching the same.

13. A sheet-feeding mechanism including a carriage, means for reciprocating it along a pile of sheets, a device connected to said carriage and armed with prongs to roll upon the pile of sheets, means to check the rolling action to enable the prongs to catch and feed the top sheet, a tappet arm mounted upon said carriage, a sprin connected to said rolling device and to sai tappet arm, and a stop in the path of said tappet arm to cause the same to tension said sprlng during the movement of the carriage, to in-,

crease the pressure of said prongs upon the sheet.

14. A sheet-feeding mechanismincluding the rotation of the same to cause it to catc 1 and feedthe sheets, said feeding device mounted to drop as the pile diminishes, and means efi'ective at'all elevations of the rolling device for temporarily increasing the pressure of the prongs upon the top sheet when catching the same.

v 15. A sheet-feedingmechanism including a stationary support for the pile of sheets, a carriage, means for reciprocating said carriage along the pile, a feeding device forme with pron s to roll upon the pile of sheets, arms in w ich said feeding device is journaled, said arms pivoted to said carriage to permit the feeding device to drop as the pile. diminishes, means for intermittently arresting the rotation of the feeding device, I and means dependent upon the 16. A sheet-feeding mechanism including a stationary support for the pileof sheets, a carriage, means for reciprocating said carria e along the pile, a feeding device formed wit prongs to roll upon the ile of sheets, arms in which said feeding device is journaled, said arms pivoted to said carriage to permit the feeding device to drop as the pile diminishes, means for intermittently arresting the rotation of the feeding device, "a tappet arm upon the carriage, a sprin connected to said tappet arm and to sai feeding device, and a stop upon the machine frame in the path of said tappet arm to arrest. it during the movement of the carriage, to tension said spring and thereby increase the pressure of the prongs upon the top sheet.

17. The combination with a clip to rest upon the leading edge of a pile of sheets,

a revoluble device to run upon the pile and having prongs to catch into the sheets, a carriage to which said revoluble device is connected, means to reciprocate said carria e, means to cause the prongs to pick up an advance the to sheet; said revoluble device being movable up from the pile of sheets, and a latch bein provided to hold the revoluble device in e evated position.

18. The combination of a reciprocatin carria e, a revoluble'sheet feeder connected to sai carriage to travel upon a pile of sheets, a clutc to prevent rotation of the traveling feeder in one direction, a releaser for said clutch, a latch or sear to hold said releaser in effective position, an arm upon the carriage, an abutment in the path of said arm to cause it to move in one direction, means operated by said arm durin such movement to release said sear and ena le the clutch to operate, a second abutment in the path of said arm to move the latter in the opposite direction, and means operated by said arm during the last mentioned movement to restore said releaser to eflective position and enable it to be reengaged by said sear.

19. The combination of a reciprocatin carria a revoluble sheet-feeder connects to sai carria e to run u on the ile of sheets and a re easable clutc ing niec anism controlling the rotation of the said revoluble feeder as it runs to and fro upon the sheets, said clutching mechanism including a clutch-releasing device, a latclior sear to hold said clutch-releasingdevice in effective position,Iarock shaft mounted upon the carriage and having an arm, abutments on the framework to engage said arm alternatel to swing it toand fro as the carriage trave s back and forth, a cam upon said rock shaft to move said latch or sear to inefi'ective position, and a second cam upon said rock shaft to return said clutch-releasin device to eflective position; said cams ren ered effective by the rock sh 20. The combination of a reciprocatin carria e, a revoluble sheet-feeder connect to sai carria e to travel upon a 'pile of opposite rocking movements of 81 sheets, a clutc to prevent rotation of the travelmg feeder in one direction, a releasin lever for said clutch, a latch or sear to 100 said releasing lever in effective position, a rock-shaft upon thecarriage, an arm upon the rock-shaft, abutments. in the path ofsaid am 'to rock it to and fro during the strokes of the carriage, and devices connecting said releasing lever and latch or sear to said rock-shaft "to enable the latter to opcrate said lever and sear alternately-at alternate strokes of the'carriage, first move said sear to release said lever, and *then 'to restore said lever to effective position and permit it to be relocked by said sear.

21. The combination of a reciprocatin carriage, a revoluble sheet feeder connecte to said carriage to travel upon a pile of sheets, a clutch to prevent rotation of the traveling feeder in one direction, a releasin lever for said clutch, a latch or sear to hol said releasing lever in effective position, a. rock shaft upon the carriage, a cam or projection on said rock shaft, an arm upon the rock shaft, abutments in the path of said arm to rock it to and fro during the strokes of the carriage, an arm upon said sear to engage said cam or projection u on said rock shaft and to be caused there y to release said releasing lever and enable the clutch to o erate, a link connected at one end to said releasing lever and supported at the other end, and a second cam or shoulder upon said rock shaft and effective at the movement of the latter in the opposite direction to engage said link to swing said releasin armxto effective position and enable said latch to relock said releasing arm.

22. A stenciling machine com rising a stencil cylinder, 0. sheet-feedin table, a car- 'riage 'reclprocating beneath t e table and connected to said cylinder, a frame demountably erected upon said carriage at the side or sides of said table and extending above and across the feed table, and a sheet-feeding roll connected to said frame to run upon I the pile of sheets and to diminishes.

23. A stenciling machine comprising a stencil cylinder, a sheet-feeding table, a reciprocatmg carriage connected to said cylinder and having posts at the side edges of the table, a frame detachably secured upon said osts, a sheet-feeding roll connected to said ame to travel upon the pile of sheets, and clutching mechanism also connected to said frame to control the rotation of said roll during the travel thereof along the sheets.

24. A stenciling machine comprising a stencil cylinder, a sheet-feeding table, a reciprocating carriage connected to said cylinder andhaving posts at the side edges of the table, socket pieces fitting upon said posts, screws upon said socket pieces to secure the same-detachably to said carriage, a shaft or rod connecting said socket pieces, arms exdrop as the pile from said shaft or rod, a roll carried screws upon said socket pieces to secure the same detachably to saidcarriage, a shaft or rod connecting said socket pieces, arms extending from said shaft or rod, a roll carried by said arms to travel back and forth upon the pile of sheets, and a clutching mechanism also carried by said socket-pieces to control the revolution of said roll, said socket pieces detachable from the posts together with said roll and said clutching mechanism. a

26. The combination with a stencil cylinder and a framework, of a sheet-feeding table, a transverse revolving shaft beneath the table, a pair of unconnected slides on the framework forward of said shaft, cranks upon said shaft, connections from said cranks to said slides, a'train of gearing between said stencil cylinder and'said shaft, and a sheet-feeding mechanism connected to said slides at the sides of the table and including a roll to run upon a pile of sheets'on sai table. Y :1 a

27. The combination with astencil cylinder and a framework, of. a sheet-feeding...

table, a transverse shaft beneath the table, a

such advance movement,

pair of slides on the framework forward of i said shaft, cranks upon said shaft, connections from said cranks to said slides, a train of aring between said stencil cylinder and sai shaft, and a sheet-feeding roll connected to said slides to run upon a pile of sheets on said table, said framework comprising a pair of sides and a. pair of supports between said sides; said cranks being mounted tween said sides, and said supports being disposed between said cranks. a :28. The combination with a stencil cylinder and a framework, of a sheet-feeding table, a transverse shaft beneath the table, a.

pair of slides onthe framework forward of,

said shaft, cranks upon said shaft, connec-' tions from said shaft to said slides,-a train of gearing between said stencil cylinder and. said shaft, and a sheet-feeding roll connectred to said slides to run upon a pile of sheets o'n'said table, said framework comprising a pair of sides and a pair of supports between said sides; said cranks being mounted between said sides, and said supports being disposed between said cranks, and said slides running upon guide-ways provided upon said slides. -29. The combination with a gage and a clip for the leading end of the pile, and means to press said clip down upon the pile, of a feed roll comprising a SGIIGSOf narrow, hard, sharp, serrated teeth, said roll running to and fro upon the pile without rising'therefrom, means to arrest the rotation of the feed roll to withdraw the top sheet from the clip and advance it there'over, and means to relieve the pressure of-the clip upon the ile durin to enab e said r0 to cause the under sheets to advance to said a g The combination with a ga e and a clip, the latter to rest u on the lea 'ng edge of a pile of sheets, 0 running continually upon the pile and having prongs to catch into the sheets, means to reciprocate said revoluble device upon the pile'of sheets, means to prevent rotation of the revoluble device, thereby to enable the rongs to pick up the top sheet, withdraw it rom the clip, and advance it over the clip, and means to release the pressure of the clip upon the pile during such advance movement, to enable said revoluble device to cause the under, sheets to advance to said gage.

31. A sheet-feeding mechanism including a carriage, a revolvmg shaft connected to said carriage to reciprocate the same, a clip and a gage for the leading'end of the pile of sheets, means to press said clip down upon the pile, a feeding roll comprising a series of narrow, hard, sharp, serrated teeth, said roll connected .to said carriage and continually running to and from. the pile, means to cause said roll to withdraw the-top sheet fromthe .clip and advance 'it' over said clip,

" and means connected to said shaft to release said clip-pressing means during the advance ofithe sheet over the clip, to enable said roll to set the under sheets up tothe gage.

32. A sheet-feeding mechanism including a carriage, a revolving shaft connected to said carriage to reciprocate the same, a pair of clips and a gage for the leading end of the pile of sheets, a bar resting upon said clipsto hold them down, a feeding roll comprising a series of narrow, hard, sharp, serrated teeth, said roll connected to said carriage and continuall running to and from the pile and provided with means to cause it to withdraw the top sheet from the clips and advance it over. said clips, and means upon said shaft to engage said bar to lift it and release the clips duringthe advance of the sheet over the clips, to enable said roll to set the under sheets up to the gage.

33. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a clip to hold the front end of a pile of sheets, of a feeding roll to run upon the pile, means to reciprocate said feeding rollover the pile, a clutch tending to prevent rotation of said roll during its retreating stroke, means to release said clutch before the completion of the advance stroke of the roll and to hold it released during the larger part ofthe retreating stroke of the roll, and arseoond clutch to prevent rotation roll in the opposite direction.

34. The combination with upon the leading edge of a pile of sheets, of a surface roller to run upon the pile and having prongs to bite or prick into the topmost sheet, a carriage to which said roller of the a clip rest a revoluble device is connected, means to reciprocate said carriage, and means including a pressure-varying spring to cause the prongs to pick u and advance the top sheet; said prongs su ciently numerous and close together to form a serrated surface to permit the roller to roll smoothly along the pile without picking up or mutilating the top sheet.

35. A sheet-feeding mechanism havin means to confine the leading edge of the pile of sheets, and a to-and-fro moving surfaceroller to roll back and forth upon the pile and means whereby rotation during a part of the return movement of said surface roller is stopped whereby a sheet is dragged back and buckled, and means-whereby rotation of said roller is stopped during forward motion of said roller to car said sheet forward from the pile; said ro er having sheetbiting or pricking prongs sufficiently numerous and close together to' form a serrated surface to permit the roller to roll smoothly along the pile without picking up, iercing, or mutilating the top sheet, sai prongs being ointed'backward.

36. he combination with a stationary sheet-supporting table and a clip for the leading edges of the sheets, rear ends of the sheets, and means to withdraw the top sheet from the cli and buckle it back against the gage and t en to carry said sheet forwardly over the clip to sheetadvancing mechanism; said cli means being movable u and own to accommodate the height of the pile of sheets, and said means being effective at all heights of said pile, and comprising a surface roller having hard sheet-biting or pricking rongs sufiiciently numerous and close to orm a serrated surface to enable said roller to run freely upon the pile, means for varying pressure on said withdrawing means, and means for arresting said roller intermittently.

37. The combination with a stationary sheet-supporting table and a clip to rest upon the leading edge of the pile of sheets, of a gage for the rear edge of the pile, a feeding device to rest upon the pile, and means to reciprocate said feeding device to withdraw the top sheet from the clip and buckle it back against the gage, an then advance said sheet over the clip; said feeding device having a loose connection to said reciprocating means, to enable the former to move up and down to accommodate the height of the pile of sheets, and being effective at all heights of said pile, and bein in the form of a surface roller having ha'r sheet-biting or pricking prongs sufficiently numerous and close to form a serrated sur face to enable said roller to run freely-upon the pile and means for arresting said roller intermittently. a

38. The combination with a stationary sheet-supporting table and a clip to rest of a gage for theand said 1,1ao,se1

upon the leading edge of the pile of sheets, 0 a feeding device to rest upon the pile, means to reciprocate said feeding device along the pile, said feeding device having a loose connection to said reciprocating means, to enable the former to move up and down to accommodate the height of the pile of sheets, and means moving up and down with said feeding device and operative at all heights of the pile of sheets to cause said feeding device to move idly during the first part of its. retreating stroke and to withdraw the top sheet from the clip during the last part of said stroke and to advance the sheet over said. clip during the advance stroke of the feeding device; said feeding device in the form of a surface roller having hard sheet biting or pricking prongs sufiiciently numerous and close to form a serrated surface to enable said roller to run freely upon the pile, and means for arresting said roller intermittently.

39. The combination with a stationary sheet-supporting table, a clip to rest upon the leading edge of the pile of sheets, and a gage for the rear. end of the pile, of a roll to run upon the pile, a carriage, means to reciprocate said carriage, a; device hinged to the carriage and engaging said roll, to permit the latter to rise or fall while connected to said carriage; and means mounted partly on said bailand effective at all heights of the pile, for withdrawing and advancing the top sheet said withdrawing and advancing means in theform of a surface roller havin hard sheet-biting or pricking rongs sufiiciently numerous and close to orm a serrated surface to enable said roller to run freely upon the pile, ing said roller intermittently.

40. The combination with a stationary sheet-supporting table, a clip to rest upon the leading edge of the sheets, and a gage for therear end of the pile, of aroll to run upon'the pile and withdraw and advance the top sheet, means to reciprocate said roll, said roll having a loose connection to said reciprocating means, to enable the roll to move up and down to accommodate the height of the pile of sheets, means movable upanddown with said roll to cause said roll to run idly during the first portion of its retreating stroke, and to withdraw the top sheet from the clip and buckle it against the reargage during the final portion of the retreating :stroke of the roll, and meansalso movable up and down with said ro l to cause the roll. in its advancing stroke to advance the released sheet over the top of the cli said roller having hard sheet-biting or prickingzprongs sufficiently numerous and close together to form a serrated surface to enable said roller to run freely upon the pile of sheets.

41. The combination with a stationary and means for arrestnecting sheet-supporting table and a clip to rest upon. the leading edge of the pile of sheets, of a roll to run upon the pi.le,--a vcarriage, means to reciprocate the carriageya bail 0r hinged frame to connect the roll to. the carriagc to enable the roll to move up andvdown to accommodate the height of tl1e,pi1e -of sheets, means connected to said bail to cause the roll to run idly during the first portion of its retreating stroke and to withdraw the top sheet from the clip during the last portion of said stroke, and means also connected to said bail to cause the roll in its advancing stroke to advance the released sheet overthe top of the pile; said roller havin -hard sheet-biting or pricking prongs su ciently numerous and close together to formaserrated surface to enable said roller to ru freely upon the pile of sheets. i

&2. The combination with -.a stationary sheet-supporting table and a; feeding, roll to run upon the pile of sheets, of a carriage, means to reciprocate the carriage, a hinged fra me connecting the roll to the carriage to enable the roll to move up and down to accommodate the height of the ,pile of sheets, and a clutch mechanism upon said frame and connected to said roll to, permit the latter to run idly during the first part of its retreating stroke, and to cause said roll to carry backthe top sheet duringthe final part of said stroke and to .oadvance said sheet during the advance stroke of theroll;

said roller .having hard sheet-biting or pricking prongs sufficiently numerous and close together to form a serratedsurface to enable said roller to run freely upon the pile of sheets.

43. 'The combination with :a: stationary sheet-supporting table and. a feeding roll to run upon the pile of sheets, of a, reciprocating driver, a hingedfframe or memvber connecting said roll to said driver, a clutch upon said frame capable of preventing the roll from turning during its, retreating stroke, means upon the. framework effective to release said clutch at about the beginning of said retreating stroke, means upon the framework effective to closersaid clutch before the termination of its retreating stroke, a gage or stop a ainst which the top sheet is buckled by a r0 1 in making the final portion of its retreating stroke, and a clutch upon said frame to prevent the roll from turning during its advancing stroke; said :roller having hard sheet -1engaging prongs sufficiently numerous and close together to enable said roller to run freely upon the pile of sheets.

44. The combination with a stationary sheet-sup ing table and a feeding roll to t f: of sheets, of a reciprocatranged frame or member conn roll to said driver, a clutch frame capable of preventing the upon said.

$011 from turning during its retreating stroke, means u on the framework effective to release said clutch at about the beginning of, saidretreating stroke, means upon the framework effective to close said clutch berfore the termination of its retreating stroke, a gjige or stop against which the top sheet 1s uckled by the roll in making the final .por.tion of its retreating stroke, a clutch ,upon said frame to prevent the roll from gturning during its advancing stroke, and a clip for the ading edge of the pile of sheets; said clip movable up and down to r accommodate the height of the pile of sheets,

sheet-supporting table and a clip for the leading edge of a pile of sheets, of a feeding ,rollto run upon the pile, a reciprocating frame carrying said roll, said frame movable up and down with said rolls to accommodate the. hei ht ofthe pile of sheets, a clutch on said rame and movable up and down therewith to prevent the roll from turning during its retreating stroke, a clutch-releasing device comprising a part; upon the framework of the machine, means including fixed devices and dependentupon the travel of said frame to cause said releasing device to be efiective during the first part of the retreating strokeof the roll and ineffective during the last, v art of said Stroke, and a clutch device a'o on said frame to, prevent ,the'roll from turning during its advance stroke; said roller having hand sheet-engaging prongs sufficiently numerous .and close together to enable said roller, to run freely upon thepile of sheets.

46. Ina sheet-feeding machine, the combination with a clip .to rest upon the leading edge of a, pile of sheets, of a roller compris ing.a,p1urality of series of narrow, hard, sharp, serrated, pricking teeth on its. surface, means for reciprocating said roller onsaid .pile ofrsheets, means for preventing the ro tation of said roller so that it seizes and withdrawsthe top sheet: from; the: clip; and -means for preventing the rotation of the roller in the reverse direction to advance said sheet over said clip.

47. In a sheet-feeding machine, the combination with a clip to rest upon the leading edge of a ile of sheets, and a clip at the rear end 0 the same against which a sheet may be buckled, of a roller comprising a plurality of series of narrow, hard, sharp,

serrated, pricking teeth on its surface adapted to run back and forth on said pile, means for locking said roller near the end of its backward movement so that it seizes and withdraws a sheet from a front clip, and means for locking said roller on its forward movement to advance a sheet over said front clip.

48. In a sheet-feeding machine, the combination with a table, and a clip to rest upon the leading edge of a pile of sheets on said table, of a series of wheels adapted to run upon said pile, each Wheel having upon its surface a series of narrow, hard, sharp, serrated, pricking teeth, said wheels forming a unitary revolving member, means for looking said wheels against rotation near the end of their backward stroke so that they seize and withdraw a sheet from the clip, and means for locking said wheels against rotation on their forward stroke to advance a sheet over said clip.

49. The combination with a clip to rest upon the leading edges of a pile of sheets, of a roller supported upon said pile of sheets to travel thereover, means to reciprocate said roller upon the pile of sheets, and means to prevent rotation of the roller to enable it to engage the surface of the to sheet and withdraw it from the clip to a vance it over the clip; the periphery of said roller having hard, sharp teeth, for surfacepricking positive engagement with the uppermost sheet, to move said sheet when the roller is prevented from rotation, said teeth being pointed backward and arranged so closely together that they will not mar the surface of or disturb the uppermost sheet when the roller is free to roll thereover.

50. The combination with means for supporting and engaging a pile of sheets, of a roller supported thereon to travel thereover, said roller being capable of both rolling and sliding motions, and the periphery of said roller having hard, sharp backward pointed teeth for surface-pricking positive engagement with the uppermost sheet to move said sheet when sliding, and said teeth being arranged so closely together that they will not mar the surface of or disturb or pierce the uppermost sheet when rolling thereover.

51. The combination with a clip for the leading edges of a pile of sheets, of a gage for the rear ends of the sheets, hard, sharp,

backward pointed, teeth arranged upon wheel to form a roller for surface contact with the uppermost sheet of the pile upon which they operate, and means to enable surface-pricking positive engagement of said teeth with the top sheet to withdraw it from the clip and buckle it against the gage, and thento carry said sheet forwardly over the clip to sheet advancing mechanism; said teeth being sufficiently numerous and close together to form a serrated surface to permit the roller to roll smoothly along the pile without engaging the top sheet or mutilating its surface.

52. The combination with a clip for the leading edges of a pile of sheets, of a gage for the rear ends of the sheets, hard, sharp teeth arranged upon wheels forming a surface-contacting roller to run upon the sheets, means to reciprocate said roller to run idly during the first part of its retreating atreke, means to check the rotation of the roller during the last part of said stroke to enable said teeth to positively engage by surface-pricking contact with the top sheet and withdraw it from the clip, and means to check the rotation of the roller during its forward stroke to cause said teeth to advance the sheet over the clip; said teeth being sufiiciently numerous and close together to form a serrated surface to permit the roller to roll smoothly along the ile without mntilating the surface of, piercing, or engaging the top sheet.

53. The combination of means for supporting a pile of sheets, a gage for the rear edges of the sheets, a set of hard, sharp teeth forming a serrated surface-rolling device capable of surface-pricking, non-piercing engagement with a contacting sheet, means for reciprocating said rolling device upon the pile of sheets, and means to check the rotation of the rolling device during its backward stroke, to cause the teeth to prick into and positively engage the surface of and buckle the top sheet against the gage, and to check such rotation during the forward stroke of the rolling device, to cause it to advance said sheet.

CHARLES GIBBS. JACOB SOKOLOV. Witnesses:

JOHN O. SEIFERT, C. RIrLEY. 

